Organic EL element, organic EL display panel, and organic EL display panel manufacturing method

1. An organic electro-luminescence (EL) element, comprising:

a first electrode, a light emitting layer, a light transmissive electrically conductive layer, and a second electrode layered in this order above a substrate, wherein

the second electrode is a light transmissive electrode,

the light transmissive electrode includes a base metal layer which is a metal layer including an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal as a material and a silver thin film, which is silver or a silver alloy including silver as a main component, disposed on and in contact with the base metal layer,

the light transmissive electrically conductive layer is in contact with the second electrode, and

a light emitting layer-side surface of the first electrode and an interface of the light transmissive electrically conductive layer and the second electrode are reflective surfaces of an optical resonator structure.

2. The organic EL element of claim 1 , wherein

film thickness of the silver thin film is 20 nm or less.

3. The organic EL element of claim 1 , wherein

the material of the base metal layer is selected from the group consisting of barium, calcium, magnesium and combinations thereof.

4. The organic EL element of claim 3 , wherein

the material of the base metal layer is barium.

5. The organic EL element of claim 1 , wherein

film thickness of the base metal layer is from 0.5 nm to 5 nm.

6. The organic EL element of claim 5 , wherein

the film thickness of the base metal layer is from 1 nm to 2 nm.

7. The organic EL element of claim 1 , wherein

a material of the light transmissive electrically conductive layer is selected from the group consisting of indium tin oxide (no) and indium zinc oxide (IZO).

8. An organic electro-luminescence (EL) display panel, comprising:

a substrate; and

multiple organic EL elements above the substrate, wherein

each of the organic EL elements comprises a first electrode, a light emitting layer, a light transmissive electrically conductive layer, and a second electrode layered in this order above the substrate,

the second electrode is a light transmissive electrode,

the light transmissive electrode includes a base metal layer which is a metal layer including an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal as a material and a silver thin film, which is silver or a silver alloy including silver as a main component, disposed on and in contact with the base metal layer,

the light transmissive electrically conductive layer is in contact with the second electrode, and

a light emitting layer side surface of the first electrode and an interface of the light transmissive electrically conductive layer and the second electrode are reflective surfaces of an optical resonator structure.

9. A method of manufacturing an organic electro-luminescence (EL) element comprising a light reflective pixel electrode, a light emitting layer, a light transmissive electrically conductive layer, and a light transmissive counter electrode layered in this order above a substrate, the method comprising:

forming the counter electrode, including

forming a base metal layer which is a metal layer including an alkaline metal or an alkaline earth metal as a material, and

forming a silver thin film, which is silver or a silver alloy including silver as a main component, after forming the base metal layer, wherein

the silver thin film is disposed on and in contact with the base metal layer,

the light transmissive electrically conductive layer is in contact with the counter electrode, and

a light emitting layer-side surface of the light reflective pixel electrode and an interface of the light transmissive electrically conductive layer and the counter electrode are reflective surfaces of an optical resonator structure.

10. A method of manufacturing an organic electro-luminescence (EL) element comprising a light transmissive electrically conductive layer, a light transmissive pixel electrode, a light emitting layer, and a light reflective counter electrode layered in this order above a substrate, the method comprising:

forming the pixel electrode, including

forming a base metal layer which is a metal layer including an alkaline metal or an alkaline earth metal as a material, and

forming a silver thin film, which is silver or a silver alloy including silver as a main component, after forming the base metal layer, wherein

the silver thin film is disposed on and in contact with the base metal layer,

the light transmissive electrically conductive layer is in contact with the pixel electrode, and

a light emitting layer-side surface of the light reflective counter electrode and an interface of the light transmissive electrically conductive layer and the pixel electrode are reflective surfaces of an optical resonator structure.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein

when forming the base metal layer, film thickness of the base metal layer is made to be from 0.5 nm to 5 nm.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein

when forming the base metal layer, film thickness of the base metal layer is made to be from 1 nm to 2 nm.